Northern Ont. hospital to close its emergency department this weekend

Northern Ont. hospital closing its ER this weekend Doctor shortage to close North Shore Health Network's Thessalon emergency department for 24 hours this weekend. Ambulances will be rerouted.

The emergency department at the Thessalon Site of the North Shore Health Network is closing Aug. 10 because of a shortage of physicians.

The department will close at 8 a.m. Saturday and reopen Sunday at 8 a.m.

“The North Shore Health Network continues to investigate all possible options to provide safe access to care,” the network said in a social media post.

“Every effort will continue to be made and NSHN is committed to keeping the community informed regarding this situation.”

Anyone requiring immediate medical attention should call 911. Ambulances will be re-routed to sites in either Blind River, Richards Landing-Matthews or Sault Area Hospital.

The closest emergency departments to Thessalon are in Blind River, 525 Causley St.; Richards Landing, 1180 Richards St.; and, Sault Area Hospital, 750 Great Northern Rd.

Access to services for non-emergency health advice or information is available by contacting Health811 by calling 811. The toll-free TTY line can be accessed at 1-866-797-007. A live chat with an adviser can also be accessed online by clicking here.